Plastic articles having on the surface thereof a protected metal film

Abstract

Molded plastic articles having on the surface thereof a thin metal film coated in any order of succession with protective layers of (a) a coat derived from 100 parts by weight of an acrylic copolymer having a hydroxyl number of 10-150, 10-150 parts by weight of an anti-yellowing polyisocyanate and 2-10 parts by weight of an ultraviolet rays-absorbing agent and (b) a coat cured by the action of ultraviolet rays. Such molded plastic articles having on the surface thereof a metal film coated with the protective layers are manufactured by (1) covering the metal film with a paint comprising 100 parts by weight of an acrylic copolymer having a hydroxyl number of 10-150, 10-150 parts by weight of an anti-yellowing polyisocyanate and 2-10 parts by weight of an ultraviolet rays-absorbing agent and curing the paint by heating and then (2) covering the cured coat with a paint curable by the action of ultraviolet rays and curing the latter paint by irradiation of ultraviolet rays or alternatively by effecting the treatment (1) after completion of the treatment (2).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A molded plastic article having on the surface thereof a metal film coated with the following protective layers in any order of (a) a layer applied from a mixture consisting essentially per 100 parts by weight of an acrylic copolymer of a lower alkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid and a lower hydroxyalkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid and having a hydroxyl number of 10-150, 10-150 parts by weight of an anti-yellowing polyisocyanate and 2-10 parts by weight of an ultraviolet ray-absorbing agent and cured by heating and (b) a layer consisting essentially of an unsaturated polyester and about 10-80 parts by weight of an anti-yellowing polyisocyanate per 100 parts of said unsaturated polyester, which layer is curable by the action of ultraviolet rays and then cured by exposure to such rays. 
     
     
       2. A molded plastic article according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of each of said protective layers is within a range of 5-60 μ. 
     
     
       3. A molded plastic article according to claim 1 wherein said acrylic copolymer is a copolymer of a lower alkyl acrylate or a lower alkyl methacrylate, and a lower hydroxyalkyl acrylate, or a lower hydroxyalkyl methacrylate, the proportion of said lower alkyl ester to said lower hydroxyalkyl ester being 7:1 to 20:1. 
     
     
       4. A molded plastic article according to claim 1 wherein said anti-yellowing polyisocyanate is one selected from the group consisting of aliphatic diisocyanates and araliphatic diisocyanates. 
     
     
       5. A mold plastic article according to claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet ray-absorbing agent has a hydroxy group. 
     
     
       6. A molded plastic article according to claim 1 wherein said composition curable by the action of ultraviolet rays is a polymer of an unsaturated polyester. 
     
     
       7. A molded plastic article according to claim 6 wherein said unsaturated polyester is a polycondensate of an unsaturated polycarboxylic acid with an alkylene glycol. 
     
     
       8. A molded plastic article according to claim 1 wherein said molded plastic article comprises a thermoplastic resin substrate carrying a metallic film coated with said protective layers.